As a leader, manager or executive, you may sometimes find it lonely "at the top". People expect you to "perform miracles". They blame you when things go wrong, and don't even say a word when you do things right. Your personal mentoring and coaching program can help you:

• Develop skills in planning and chairing effective meetings.
  
• Negotiate confidently your team's mandate with the person or group to whom you are accountable.
  
• Clarify the allocation of decision making powers and accountabilities on your team.
• Develop the clarity and confidence needed to make a tough decision.
• Strengthen your ability to work with difficult people or handle team dysfunctions.
  
• Develop skills in giving feedback and mentoring and coaching your staff.
• Get ready for an important speech or an adversarial media interview (videotaping option).
  

If you are a senior elected officer (Board Chair, Mayor), your personal mentoring and coaching program can be customized to your needs, and can help you:

• Become an effective leader and earn the respect of your Council or Board.
  
• Define your role versus the role of the most senior staff officer (CEO, Administrator).
  
• Articulate messages that the community will be likely to accept and understand.
  
• Chair contentious Council, Board or Committee meetings, or Public Hearings.
  
• Establish a responsible democracy and avoid "the tyranny of the minority".
  
• Resolve disputes among elected members or between them and staff members.
  
• Learn to use the rules of order sensibly and intelligently.
  

If you are a senior staff officer (CEO, Superintendent, Municipal Clerk, Secretary-Treasurer) who works closely with an elected Board or Council, your mentoring & coaching program can help you:

• Work effectively with your Board or Council and establish respect for your position.
  
• Preserve your professional integrity without being compromised by politics.
  
• Be gracious but firm as you give your Board or Council advice they may not want to hear.
  
• Know when to speak up and when not to during Board or Council meetings.
  
• Build and support your own staff team.
  
• Know when and how to deal with seemingly unfair attacks on staff during publicly held meetings.